Welsh Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles) facts for kids
The Welsh Presbyterian Church was a special place in the Pico-Union area of Los Angeles, California. It was a church where people spoke both Welsh and English. It started way back in 1888 and closed its doors in 2012.
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A Look Back: The Church's Story
The Welsh Church in Los Angeles began in 1888. A man named Reverend David Hughes, who was born in Wales, started it. He was very dedicated and even created two separate groups within the church. Every Sunday, he would preach sermons in English to one group and in Welsh to the other.
Moving to a New Home
In 1910, Reverend E. L. Jones became the new pastor. At that time, the church was located on Crocker Street. They continued to hold services in both Welsh and English every week. Later, in 1926, the Welsh Church moved to a new building on Valencia Street. This building had a history of its own, as it was once used by a Jewish group called Sinai Temple.
Making the Building Safe
In the 1980s, even though the church didn't have a lot of money, the people decided to make their building stronger. They did something called seismic retrofitting. This means they made the building safer in case of an earthquake. They chose to fix it up instead of letting it be torn down because it was considered unsafe.
The Final Years
By 2012, the church had only about ten active members. Even with fewer people, they still held worship services, concerts, and cultural events in Welsh. However, they hadn't had a full-time pastor since 1964. The Welsh Presbyterian Church officially closed in December 2012. The building was then sold and is now home to the Pico Union Project, which is a place for many different faiths.
Between 2014 and 2016, the building was still used by the Welsh League of Southern California for their special singing events called Gymanfa Ganu.
The Church Building Itself
The building where the Welsh Church was located was built in 1909. It was designed in a style called Greek Revival, which looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. This building is special because it's the oldest synagogue building still standing in Los Angeles.
It has been recognized as a Historic-Cultural Monument by the city. This means it's an important historical place. Inside, there's also a historic pipe organ that was built by Murray M. Harris in 1909.
